Overview

Vanessa Goodwin (22 April 1969 – 3 March 2018) was an Australian politician who served as the Liberal Party member for Pembroke in the Tasmanian Legislative Council. She entered the Council in a by-election on 1 August 2009 and remained the sitting member until she stepped down for health reasons on 2 October 2017. Goodwin died of brain cancer in Hobart on 3 March 2018 at the age of 48.

Political role and the seat of Pembroke

The Tasmanian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Tasmania; its members review legislation, conduct inquiries and represent local constituencies. The electoral division of Pembroke covers suburban and coastal areas to the east of central Hobart. As the member for Pembroke, Goodwin represented local concerns in the Council and participated in parliamentary debate and committee work.

Tenure and responsibilities

Goodwin won the Pembroke seat in a by-election held on 1 August 2009. During her time in the Legislative Council she took part in the standard functions of an upper-house member: scrutinising bills, contributing to policy discussion, and serving on parliamentary committees. Such roles typically involve:

  • Reviewing and amending proposed legislation;
  • Holding the government to account through questions and committee hearings;
  • Representing constituent interests and responding to local issues in the electorate;
  • Engaging with community groups and stakeholders on policy matters.

Health, resignation and death

In 2017 Goodwin announced she would not seek re-election because of ill health and formally resigned from the Legislative Council on 2 October 2017. She subsequently died from brain cancer in Hobart, Tasmania, on 3 March 2018. Her illness and passing drew attention across the Tasmanian political community and among constituents who remembered her parliamentary service.

Legacy and context

Goodwin's career is remembered as part of the broader workings of Tasmania's upper house, where individual members can exert significant influence through committee participation and legislative review. Her time in office highlights the role that Legislative Council members play in balancing local constituency representation with the deliberative functions of a state parliament. Her departure for health reasons and subsequent death also serve as a reminder of the personal challenges public figures may face while serving in elected office.

Further information

For more on the functions of the Tasmanian Legislative Council and the electoral division of Pembroke, consult official parliamentary resources and local electoral materials. Archived news accounts and parliamentary records contain details of Goodwin's speeches, committee work and contributions during her years in office.